Two Southeast Arkansas communities are among nine agencies to receive grant funding through the Greening of Arkansas Grant Program. Recipients include:
• Pine Bluff Downtown Development, landscape the Barraque Plaza in downtown Pine Bluff, $2,400;
• The City of Star City, landscape the Joslyn-Carter Historic Town Square, $2,500;
• The Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County, construct an Arts Garden at the new Events Center at Fairview Park in Camden, $2,500;
• Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists, add native plant gardens to the Razorback Regional Greenway in Fayetteville, $1,088;
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• The Hoxie Dickens Celebration Committee, renovate landscaping at the Hoxie Community Center and the city park, $1,125;
• The City of Lockesburg, landscape several public locations throughout Lockesburg, $2,300;
• Ozark Interpretive Association of Mountain View, add native plantings at theAmphitheater City Park in Mountain View, $1,000;
• Yellville-Summit Schools, the High School Nursery/Landscape class will construct and plant planter boxes at the Elementary School, $2,500;
• Quitman Community Connection, landscape the Quitman Public Library, $1,928.
2016 marked the 10th year the Greening of Arkansas program awarded grants. Developed and managed by the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show board in 2006, the program is intended to support the development and care of community gardens, parks, and other public green spaces throughout Arkansas.
The committee, which consists of Carol Mendel, Merilyn Tilley and Karin Briscoe, announced the grants. Mendel said grant applications are judged according to criteria designed to support the committee’s vision.
In addition to the grant funding, thousands of dollars in proceeds from the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show go to funding students studying horticulture in Arkansas.
The recipients were announced in late November. Mendel said the grants are often awarded to recipients who demonstrate a clear intent to bring a community together for the purpose of beautifying a public space.
“That’s what we like,” Mendel said. “A small community coming together, trying to make a difference.”
To learn more about the Greening of Arkansas grant program or the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, visit https://argardenshow.org/.